What is your role at Family Equality Council? I’ve worn many hats in my time at Family Equality Council–we’ve grown so much! I’m now the Communications Manager. My job is to find the real stories of LGBT families and their friends and share them with the world to make sure that all loving families are recognized, [...]

Time and time again, we talk about the importance of sharing our families’ stories. When each of us share our story, we change hearts and minds. We debunk the myths and show that our families are just like any other family - except that we are denied the same basic rights and privileges. This morning, we [...]

I just uploaded two new episodes of my John Selig Outspoken podcast this weekend that feature a 2-part interview with Tom and Travis Knoll, a gay dad and his 17-year old son. I produced this interview with the Family Equality Council in both my mind. You won’t want to miss this interview and you will [...]

(Phyllis Lyon, left, with her wife Del Martin, right, after being the first same-sex couple to marry in California in 2004.) The LGBT community has just learned that Del Martin, 87, has passed away in San Francisco with her wife and partner of +50 years, Phyllis Lyon, by her side. Del and Phyllis were the [...]

It’s been nearly 2 years (and 760 posts) since we launched The Family Equality Council Blog back in 2006. Since then, 126,000 people from around the world - yourself included - have visited our blog. 1,000 comments have been made and countless ideas and viewpoints exchanged. Our blog has grown to include dozens of guest [...]

Didn’t think we were hip enough to be on Perez Hilton’s blog? Think again! Seeing is believing, so click here. We thank Perez for highlighting our important work and for increasing the visibility of LGBT families!

Will there soon be another high-profile LGBT family in Hollywood? A recent article in GenQ by Natalie Kalow suggests that Ellen and Portia may be ready to expand their family: First comes love, then comes marriage.. then comes? Yep, you guessed it, just as talk of the marriage between Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi is [...]

As part of our continuing Team Equality Spotlight series, we were excited to sit down with Family Equality Council’s Nina Selvaggio. What is your role at Family Equality Council? I am the Director of Programs. Why is family equality important to you? I believe the current mainstream concept of who makes a family is antiquated and so many families [...]

Banned Books Week will be observed September 27 through October 4. This year marks BBW’s 27th anniversary. The American Library Association describes the event as a way to celebrate the freedom to choose and the freedom to express one’s opinion - even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular. The annual BBW [...]

Over the weekend, I read an interesting article in the Dallas Voice about gay families (and, for that matter, any other non-Mom/Dad families such as single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, etc) being discriminated against at a Dallas, Texas Gun Range. It’s reminder of the many smaller ways in which our families are marginalized and the [...]

I’ll bet the above headline just caught your eye. The thought just crossed my mind as I sat wonder what will be needed so that someday in future we can see LGBT parents (both single and couples) root for their kids competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in swimming, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, sailing, equestrian [...]

With increasing coverage of LGBT parents in the media today, it is surprising LGBT grandparents are still largely invisible. I suspect this has much to do with the frequent media focus on lesbian couples with cute little tots or funny stories about finding sperm, or, for occasional variety, gay men searching for surrogates. The idea [...]

It’s scary to think that some people still believe there is a connection between being gay and pedophilia. As a community of LGBT parents, we’re disheartened and disgusted by the seemingly endless finger pointing and ignorance. Just yesterday, I came across this post on the popular blog, Think Progress. Here’s what the post said: On his radio [...]

Last week, one of our board members, Alex Habib, had the privilege of meeting the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama and thanking him for the letter he wrote to our families. On August 5, Senator Obama responded to a letter written by Family Equality Council’s executive director, Jennifer Chrisler. Chrisler asked: What policies and [...]

Originally posted on Mombian.com.  A few weeks ago I reported on the first challenge to Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, a children’s book featuring two gay guinea pigs who marry. Today, library director James LaRue, who wrote a sensitive, balanced response to the initial challenge, reports that a second patron has challenged the book and asked for its removal [...]

In an effort to share our talented and passionate staff with all of you, today we’re thrilled to bring the first of many staff interviews! Today, we interview Ember Cook, one of the newest members of our team.  What is your role at Family Equality Council? I am a Program & Education Associate and one of my [...]

A new campaign in Milwaukee has been raising a few eyebrows and getting quite a bit of attention. Starting Monday, 30 billboards will go up throughout Milwaukee and Waukesha counties featuring gay couples with toddlers and teens, gay seniors and gay singles from the Milwaukee area according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The “Gay Neighbors” campaign [...]

This morning, I awoke to some interesting news out of Colorado. Openly gay democratic candidate Jared Polis has won the primary in Colorado’s 2nd district for the U.S. House. What’s the significance of Polis’ victory? According to Pam’s House Blend: Polis is almost a lock to be the first openly gay man elected to Congress as [...]

As the final draft of the Democratic Party’s platform is coming together, activists and bloggers have been criticizing the party for weakening its language regarding LGBT families. In 2004, the provision addressing gay families read as follows: “We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits [...]

Family Equality Council’s Executive Director, Jennifer Chrisler, was the special guest for South Carolina’s Rainbow Radio’s 145th show! In honor of National Parents Day, Jenn talks about Family Equality Council and its history, LGBT families and the state of the movement today. To listen to the podcast, click here. A special thanks to Columbia on Air America, [...]